Cosmetic product based on propionic acid available for skincare professionals

AFYREN showcases the potential of its ingredients for cosmetics, with a real-life use case by a customer. The greentech company offers manufacturers biobased, low-carbon ingredients through a unique fermentation technology based on a completely circular model.

Only a few months after starting a partnership with South Africa-based Esse Skincare,¹ a leader in microbiome skincare science, AFYREN is enabling the launch of Esse Barrier Rescue,² the world’s first skincare product formulated with natural³ propionic acid. This intensively nourishing moisturizer⁴ combines Propionic Acid and Ceramides to relieve extremely dry and reactive skin while reinforcing the skin’s natural ecosystem.

The product is now available globally to skincare professionals and consumers. Propionic acid is a naturally occurring short chain fatty acid essential for maintaining a balanced skin microbiome. Emerging research suggests it helps modulate inflammation, strengthen barrier resilience, and maintain microbial balance – the keys to hydrated, resilient skin.

Until now, propionic acid has primarily been available at industrial scale from petrochemical sources. Through this partnership, Esse gains access to AFYREN’s sustainably produced, COSMOS-certified, bio-based alternative propionic acid made at AFYREN NEOXY, the company’s flagship industrial biorefinery. Using AFYREN’s proprietary circular, low-carbon fermentation process, the plant is the first in the world capable of producing a portfolio of organic acids at commercial scale.

This partnership allows the use of a natural microbial metabolite in its pure, bio-based form – a first for the skincare industry – and represents a significant step, opening the door to new cosmetic solutions.

Joachim Merziger, COO of AFYREN, said: “This partnership shows how biotechnology can unlock new opportunities for both performance and sustainability in cosmetics, bringing tangible benefits for people and the planet. We are very proud to see the first products now reaching consumers.”